30 More Untranslatable Words From Other Languages

A while ago, I posted an infographic illustrating 11 untranslatable words from other cultures. Those were words from eleven different languages that didn’t have a perfect English equivalent. English is just about the most complex language out there, growing everyday with dozens of words. Even so, there are some concepts and feelings where English still doesn’t have a concise one-word word. Here are some more words from other languages that may describe some feelings you have that you might not be able to properly define with the English language:

Litost – Self-pity brought on by the sudden awareness of one’s own misery or poor condition. (Czech)

Tacenda – A statement or sentiment that is better left unspoken. (Latin)

Myötähäpeä – shared sense of shame, but more specifically the feeling of shame or embarrassment you feel on another person’s behalf when they do something embarrassing. (Finnish)

Sehnsucht – An unidentifiable longing or yearning, often for a place or home; missing a place far away that one can identify as their home. (German)

Mizpah – A bond between two people that remains strong even over long distances or death. (Hebrew)

Tatemae – A belief that one may profess to be true, though they may not believe it in their hearts, such as peer-induced beliefs about religion or politics. (Japanese)

Nazlanmak – Pretending reluctance or nonchalant indifference for a situation or outcome, when instead you are actually eager for it; saying no but meaning yes. (Turkish)

Meraki – The soul or essence that an artist puts into their work, such as the love put into a baker’s cake or the creativity inside an artist’s painting. (Greek)

Ilunga – A person who is ready to forgive a crime, transgression a first time and then to tolerate it for a second time, but never for a third time. (Tshiluba)

Fanaa – Dissolution or destruction of the “ego self,” as in love. (Arabic)

L’appel du vide – Literally “the call of the void,” an urge one might feel to jump or fall from a high place, though not suicidally; perhaps a non-destructive longing to try to fly from a cliff or tall building. (French)

Uitwaaien – Literally “to walk in the wind,” it is to take a brief break in order to clear one’s head. (Dutch)

Dormiveglia – A state of being half-asleep or half-awake; the time or space between sleeping and waking. (Italian)

Querencia – A place where one draws inspiration or strength from, or the place where one feels most comfortable and true. (Spanish)

Tartle – To hesitate when introducing someone to another due to momentarily having forgotten that person’s name. (Scottish)

Vorfreude – A feeling of ecstatic joy when considering or anticipating an upcoming pleasure or thrill, such as a future vacation. (German)

Guanxi – In traditional Chinese society, similar to karma as a conceptual barter/trade system of deeds. One can accrue “good guanxi” with another by granting favors or volunteering time and services; one can also use up their accrued guanxi by calling in favors. (Chinese)

Kombinować – Coming up with a risky, unusual, or law-breaking solution to complications or problems; literally “to combine,” using all the resources at one’s disposal, though it may be questionable or nonconventional, to reach a complicated goal. (Polish)

Kairos – A temporary perfect moment where everything is aligned or in just the right time and place and circumstances. (Greek)

Prozvonit – Calling someone’s phone, usually cellular, and allowing it to ring once or twice before hanging up, in order for the other person, who might have a more economical calling plan, to call back, saving the original caller money. (Czech)

Shemomedjamo – To continue eating food because it is delicious even after the stomach is full. (Georgian)

L’esprit de l’escalier – Literally “stairway wit;” coming up with the perfect phrase, word, or retort just a bit too late. (French)

Hiraeth – A homesickness or longing feeling for a past time in one’s life or for a place which cannot be returned to. (Welsh)

Korinthenkacker – Similar to a nitpicker; someone who spends too much time performing trivial and unnecessary activities. Literally a “raisin pooper.” (German)

Honne – A belief that one may inwardly accept to be true, though they would never admit it publicly or openly, such as a person with political views that may be deemed embarrassing or potentially cause for retribution if advanced or stated. (Japanese)

Ostranenie – Like defamiliarization, but more specifically to encourage oneself or another to view something normal as exciting or profound. (Russian)

Retrouvaille – A happiness felt when one meets an old friend after a long while, or sometimes a joy at rediscovery or a beloved item from the past. (French)

Nefelibata – Literally a “cloud walker,” it is one who is a non-conformist; one who disregards social conventions and norms. (Spanish, Portuguese)

Yoko Meshi – Literally “boiled rice {eaten} horizontally,” it specifically is used to comment at the difficulty one has when learning a new language. (Japanese)

Mamihlapinatapai – An unspoken look between two people with a shared, meaningful wish to initiate or agree on something, yet both are reluctant to start. (Yagan)

Subscribe to one or all of our newsletters to stay up to date with the latest travel news, stories, destination guides, advice, reviews, and more. Also, every now and then we may send out emails with prizes, offers, and special promotions. We promise to not spam you, nor will we ever give out any of your personal information without your permission.

. . . is committed to promoting socially-conscious, culturally-aware, educational, and enlightening sort of travel, as well as the importance and lifelong value of such travel. We believe that traveling to lands, distant or otherwise, can only better a person, particularly when there is a level of immersion into the local people and their cultures, traditions, cuisine, history, and language.